Deflecting member for inside pipe carriers



sept. 21,1926. 1500,400

C. A. CHRISTOFFERSON DEFLECTING MEMBER FOR INSIDE PIIE CARRIERS Filedseptjls. 1924 :s sheets-sheet 1 l, v,400 C. A. CHRISTOFFERSON DEFLECTINGMEMBER Fon INSIDE .PIPE CARRIERS Filed Sept. 15. 1924 3 Sheets$hele1z 21,6m4 C. A. v(.IHRISTOF F ERSQN DEFLECTING MEMBER FOR INSIDE PIPECARRIERS Filed Sept. 15. 1924 v3? Sheets-Sheet :5

Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

UNITED :suiss- "CHRISTIAN A. cHR'Is'roFFERsoN, or srfreu'i), MiNNnso'rn,AssIGNoR 'ro CIIICAGO RAILWAY SIGNAL AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OFCARPENTERSVILLE. ILLINOIS, A

CORPORATION oF ILLINOIS.

DEFLECTING MEMBER Foai'nsinii `1 I`PE OARRERS.

Application sied september 15, 1924. serial no. 737,818.

This invention relates to improvements in reciprocatory mechanism fortransmittingpower, for example, to operatevrailway signal apparatus froma distance, and relates more particularly to 'an improved means fordeflect-ing this power through eon'venient arcs when it becomesnecessary to change the direction of power transmission, land for easilyand economically mounting the transmission and supporting units lincompact assemblies.

The principal-objects of the presentv inventiona're to provide a deviceof this kind, operating in a closed stationary pipev whereby'all workingparts are protected from the weather and' external objects, in whichfriction is reduced to a minimum, in which the pwer may be transmittedaround comparatively sharp curves without excessive loss ot power, andin which a plurality of the power transmitting lunits may be compactlygrouped and' easily assembled and mounted in' p"osition i Otherobjectsand advantages of the invention will'be apparent from theollowing detailed description of certain approved forms vof theapparatus.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central section through a portion of thepower-transmittingmechanism, showing one 90 deflecting' member andportions of the two connected straight runs off the pipe carrier.

FigfQ is a similar view showing a mem-- ber for d eflecting the powerthrough appronimately c Fig. 3 is alongitudinal central section onenlarged scale, taken on the line 3 3 0i' either Figqi or Fig; 4.

F ig. 4 is atransverse section taken subf stantially on the line Llf-'4of 'either` Fig. 2 o'r Figi. 3.

' Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of thevv end llinks with the, longtang ends,-for

- connecting the defleetn'g member with .one

, ofthe straight 'runs of thepowrtrasmssin member.'

' lFig. '6 is a perspective view ofjon'e of the short, 'straight;, endlinks.

jugement@ Fig. 8 is a transversesection taken substantially on the line8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is "an elevation showing the sup porting member for a deflectingmember between horizontal andvertical yruns vof the pipe carrier. f

F'g. 10 showsl an assembled group of horizontal pipe carriers, andthegrouping oit' the denecting members for turning these carriers throughapproximately 90.

Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical section,- on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially on the line 11411 of 10.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the rbase plates of 'the`4 pipesupporting mechanism. l

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of yone Vof the arched clamps,Ycooperating with the base plate shown in Fig. 12 for supporting one ofthe pipes in the lower row as shown in Figs.y 10fand 11. y 1

Fig.- 1 4.- is an elevation'of vone of the supporting units for carryingone of the pipes in the iipper'row.'

In systems for operating railwayv switches and signals, from -adistance, it is common to connect'the switches and signals to beoperatedwith a series of cooperating levers in a central toweigsuchconnection. being effected bythe use of pipes or rods and 1 levers, asingle line of connecting piping."

serving to cause thefdesired movement at the switchl or the signalat aconsiderable distance from the central-point. Inv some roadway. Suchprotecting pipes have been 'closed' at theirend about the operating pipebysuit'able stuiiinfg boxes,- and the jouter pipes have ordinari-ly beenlept filled wit-li l on orf 'einer suitable. lubricant. Stich'constructions liave been objectionable fory the reason that the outerpipe is wornthroiigli rapidly in many cases," permitting the foil toVsystems of ,this type in use heretofore, it

escape and permitting'thenentrance of rain,

Show'. grit, @te Manver, ve11 i11;CaSe'S Where ,the@Wesenseinem.renamed...for a long period intact, "the 'fr1ct1oi1has` been very great,serving to reduce very materially the distance at which a signal orswitch can be operated from the tower, inv

l163,535 iiled April 22, 1921, (now Patent No.

1,541,791, issuedl J une 16, 1925,) is disclosed and claimed an improvedform ot anti-fric tion pipe carrier, in which the friction is reduced toa minimum, and the wear ot' the parts greatly reduced. A portion of sucha mechanism is shown at the lower end of Fig. 1, wherein 1 is the outerstationary enclosing pipe, in which the power transmission member issupported and operates. This power transmission member consists ofstraight sections of smaller piping 2, connected at suitable intervalsby coupling bars 8 in which operate rollers 4- and 5 mounted at rightangles to one another, and having a close working titv within the outerpipe 1.. These coupling bars 3 are placed at sutiiciently closeintervals to prevent buckling or distortion of the power transmittingpipe 2, and the guiding and supporting rollers l and 5 reduce thefriction to a minimum.

@ne 'feature of the present invention is an improved apparatus fortransmitting power from oneniechanism of the type just brieflydescribed, to another similar mechanism located in a different pla-ne.Referring first to Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, 6 indicates the outerstationary'supporting pipe of the deilecting member., The centralportion ot pipe 6 will be curved on a suitable arc `(shown as 90 in Fig.11), but a substantial length Vvof each end portion is straight as shownat 7, and connected with the adjacent end of pipe 1 by a coupling.

- The power transmission member for operating in this detiecting pipe 6,comprises a pair of end links 9 tor connecting with the en d sections ofthe straight runs of the power transmitting` mechanism, short end links10 operating in the straight portions 7 of the delecting member, and oneor more longer curved links 11 as hereinafteia described. Y AThe innerend of each link 9, and both ends vor" links 10 andV 11 are providedwith con necting yokes comprising a pair of parallel flanges 12, asshown in Fig. 5,v or similar flanges 13 spaced somewhatfurther apart asshown in Fig. 6. The langesl are Y. adapted to overlap theV flanges 12,and the two adjacent link ends are secured together by pintles 14mounted in rotary bearings 15 in the flanges 12 aud 18, asbest shown inFigs. 3 and et. A roller 16 is mounted on the pintle 14 between theiianges 12, and the outer. portion of its periphery may project into' areces-sor cutaway portion 17 in the links .provided with flanges 13.This roller 16 has arsize and shape adaptedk to Vgive it a close workinglit within the outer stationary pipe 6, its outer diameter beingsubstantially the same as the inner diameter of pipe 6, and the outerrolling peripheral surface of the roller being curved on an arcsubstantially the same as the inner arc of the pipe, shown at. 18 inFig. f1. Preferably the links, rollers, and pintle pins, are all made otdissimilar metals, for eXample,the links'may be made ot forging steel,the rollers of cast steel and the pintle pins of phosphor bronze. Thepurpose of this is to prevent rusting and consequent amming ot the partsat the bearing surfaces.v yIt has been found that when there partsareall made of the same metal, rusting will occur due to the moisturewhich will in time inevitably4 iind its way into the enclosing pipe,.andthis will cause the bearing` surfaces to stick and cause increasedfriction and wear ot the parts. By making hese several parts ofdissimilar metals, as mentioned above, this corrosive action ispractically elimina-ted. n

Each end link 9 is providedv with'a long tang end 19, adapted to projectinto the adj acent end ot the powertransmission pipe 2 al d be securedtherein by suitable rivets 2O as shown in Fig. 1. The end of link 9adjacent t-he flanges 12, is threaded asA at 21, and adapted to 'beengaged. by an internally threaded coupling vsleeve 22 screwed on to thecorrespondingly threaded end of pipe 2 as shown in F 1. In this mannerthe end links 9 are made substantiallyintegral and rigid with the endsof the ypower transmission pipe 2 adjacent to the deflecting members.The roller 16, at the end of link 9 serves as-a guide for this endof thepower transmission member. The short link 10 may be made ot anylsuitable size, having a loose working titwithin the pipe 6 and is of alength substantially the same as that of the straight end portion 7 ofhe pipe 6. Y

The longer links 1v1 operating in the curved portion ot' pipe 6;arescurved from end to end on an arc somewhat greater than that of.thesupporting pipe inwhich they operate. By curving these links thenumber or" points ot rolling contact with vthe pipe may be reducechandatthe same time sliding friction prevented between thefcentral portionsof the link and the enclosing pipe. By cutting away, as shown at 23,those portions ot links 11 lying substantially in the` plane ofcurvature of the link, a link with a larger radius of curvature can beoperatedin a pipe ot smaller radius. In order that these links mayprovide the necessary re'-' sistance to buckling or distortion, it isdesirable that their radius of curvature be as,A

large' as possible. At the sameV time the smaller this radius ofcurvatureof the link, the longer the link may be made. The links usedVaccordimerto the present invention, areV designed to reduce the points.0f. mui-11g (20,11. 139 l 6K au tact toa mini-mum', and` r stillVprovide su-icient strengthsinfthe.link members 11 .-;I't Will be -notedfthat the bearinglanges atv the link ends 'aresopositioned that the axesof rollers 16 will `loe 'at right uangles t0` the plane of curvature ofthe' delecting member.

vVhen -the deflecting members lhave 'a ratherlaige curvature,- such asvthej90D curveshown in Fig. 1,.twof of; these long links 11 willordinarilyfbe needed. .How ever7 Whenwthe curvature is smallenas forexample the 45",` curve shownfin Fig. 2,;one of theselinks-ll willordinarily suiice. For a Very small curvature a few of. the short links10 may he u'sedin Ylieu ofthe curved links 1l. i f

Then the Vflower transmitting -memher is'r pushed or-'pul ed` throughthe enclosing. pipe, the rollers-16V will roll v'along vthe inner'surface of the pipe" Without l.permitting any material lateral pl'ayofVfthe powerv transmission member; 'av-rid holding 'alli portions ofallof the links-at all tinesoutof' dontact With theenclosing pipe 6.Itxiri'llbe noted that' the'rollerslfi` are Iall in one plane, (theplane of curvaturefo'fftlie deflectinfg meinherandthere are no rollersat "right angles theretojas'used inthe straight runs, onebeing'indioated at' 5' at the7 lower "efn'd of Fig. 1.-v Thepiessurebetween thefrollers' and the inner wall'fof pipe' Wil'lfalways be' inthe-plane of curvature',` and' even though the rollers V'should vean ori'rpther' reasons nothave'a close fit Withinftheipipefthey Will ride upwhen the power transmitting meniler'is under tension`'orglcofinpre"ssin7 and travel' on t'hezcenter of 'the pipe along thevplane of eurvature. yRollers 'at right angles thereto, such as y5 inthestraidht runs,` are' notk oni-y unnecessary but w te'nfdto bind'aganst'tlie side'walls'of Vthe pipe and increase theEV friction. l

In the standard mode I of'^a'sseml'n'hng a piurality of theseffpowertransmission members,

in 'railway signal installations "oi-f other: siini` lar' Work? 'theunits' must f spaced' either 2% inehfes v1or- '5 incheslbetweenfc'enters.. In the' usual straight runs of 'the fner'njers7 thepipes are assembled in parallel relation' with their centers 'in thesaine horiz'ontalplane and with 2%i'nehes-between centers, 2 inehfplping being u'sfedffor lthe 'outer f'c'asiiigs; T is groupingi'sindicated'a'to at' the lower en'dof 10. Experience lias v"Clernstraf-ed*that 2j inch` Vpiping" does saflioieiit 'szerto the ifafiousfparts to vthe desired-strength to` the fdeleti'ng hers, and in', th''se portionsof! the' -i tional/Pinon pip-ing" is 'ii-sed. jT-Heoap iiicrs au maisPijp@ inthe sries; other 'thefpipes are posit-roseo in* tre fsa-sensiffaorfemr p rows,' every; alternate: pi'pevbeingf-in the ups perA row.Such a gggr'ou'ping. fisjsholwnvin Figs. l() and l1," and. requiresyo..giieater ground area thanthe smaller piping. Since Y the curvature oftliefcleflecting members are all;v the same, this closely 'assembled''grouping cannot he maintained Whenfgoing around curve, llout theind'iifidal :pipes lmust, -be spaced lsomewhat further apart at'theeen.ters of the curves. Also, itis sometini'sfd'e- ,f lirahle to group Vthestraight'runslof "the pipes further napart V(one iiiie-inchfcenters-)'as. shown at the upper portion of Fi. `10.

For thesefpurposes, 4special forms' o supporting memliers 'have "beendesigned; adapted for use Wthanyofthese different arrangements ofthenpipeunits. Thesesu'pf particularly Sig porting stan'ds'are 'shownmore in Figs-10m- 14 inclusive. Afhase plate124' is' providedWithacntral arcuate "depress-iron v25 foi" f supporting the lowerportion of one lof the pipesin 4the lot'i i rom-'and with air-#openended fboitrreeeivinig slot 'Q6-'steilen y'endof the plate. Atonefsideof each' end'oi'- the plateisan 'e-ar"extension 27, adapted toenga-gearound the 'end-of adj acent'hase plate Z4 as'lslovmfin* the lower halfofFiglO and'eahear 27 isprovided with' an* aperture2`8`through whichsuitable anchoring means may be passed to securdthe i* base plate'toafcrosst'ie or other-'equivalent suppoiting I' inea-iis. .v An arched#clamp' 3:29, (shown iii-Fig." 13), is provided with a iowr arcuatevrecess' 3 0 adapted: to bridgeV over the top of' one v 'of 1' the lowerpipe members.- A flange 81' at keach end y'of the ineinher'v 29 'has anopen-en ,'lolt-Ife'c'eiving'slot I 32 adapted tornate withY the" slot261in the base plate'24 whereby thesey two' members "mayl "securedtogether to 'sapport'and hold iii place loiie of t-he'lower pipes Inthetoplof tlieareh 33' of member -`29 is 'a'boltfsl'ot 34communicating.. with avlarger interior 'recess of'a Size suit- Vable toaccommodate and lholdi in place the head 336 ofa bolt 37. The upperVportion "of eaehleg of theareh '2Q-hayan arcuate 'seat 38 forsupporting onefside iof onefofthe'pipes as hereinafterde'scribed. 1 Y' rIn Fig.` 14 is shown 'a supporting u'nit for' one 'f the pipes intheupper row; Eaeh of these` supports [comprises a tbase-stand "39, adaptedto be moimtedfapon: accross tieot the-r's'1zipporting member bylni'e"sof'seering lo'o'l'tsA 40, and 4ai etwerl'plate@'41v 'hfaifingfan openended slot 42 at each'd W'hebjf cover plate is secured to the basefstl'id fby means ora toit/ie. Matin ifra'atel reessefsinthe-Bsstadndcor fr. 1p1 estres iwsr sesporting units comprising a baseplate 24, and an arched clamp 29, and each upper pipeis'independently'supported at suitable interv vals-by one of thesupporting units compris- 24 are grouped in longitudinal interlockingrelation, with the' ears 27 at the ends of the base plates overlappingthe ends of the adjacent plates. Oneof the pipes in the lower row issupported in recesses 25 of each base plate, and one of the archedclamps 29 is placed over leach pipe with the ends off flanges 3l ofadjacent clamps in contact with one another. Each-pair of adjacentflanges 3l may then be securedto a pair of adjacent ends of the baseplate 24 by a single bolt 44 as indicated in Fig. 1l; the opposedrecesses 88 in4 an adjacent pair of theyarched clamps will now be spacedthe pro-per distance apart to support one vof' the pipes in the.upperrow as indicated inFig. ll. A cover-plate ,4l is no7 secured overthisy upper pipe -by means of bolts 37 anchored in recesses 35 in thearched clamp, as heretofore described. It will be noted that in'thisclosely grouped assembly, thebase-stands 39 are. omitted entirely.v Y

When the run of one of the power trans'- mittingunits mus-t be changedfrom the horizontal tothe vertical, the dellectingmember 6 is supportedupon an arcuate stand 45 as shown-in Fig. 9.* The pipe is held in placebyyoke-bolts 46 secured to flanges or lprojections 47 on 'the arcuatesupport 45.

"Vhen `power transmitting units of this type are used, since no movingparts are eX- posed and the'pipes may be wholly or partially buried ifdesired, the hazard to trainmenand damages from 'dragging equipment arepractically eliminated. Y The pipe lines may be laid in anyv desiredlocation, close to a traclgand friction is reduced to a minimum and theswitches or signals may-be operated from a considerable distance. Y

lith the use of the 'dellecting members here d-isclosed the pipes marybe carried around'any desired curves, either in the horizontal orvertical plana-and the supporting members here disclosed may beassembled to support either the closely grouped straight runsv yofthepipe or the more widely separated curved runs.'

l I'claimi Y A 1. In reciprocatory power transmission mechanism, adirection-changing means-consisting of ka-stationary curvedv pipe, and apower transmitting membertherein comprising a plurality of connectedrigid links at least one of which vis curved longitudinally on a.longery radius thanV that portion of the pipe in. which it operates. v

In reciprocatory power vtransmission mechanism, a direction-changingmeans consisting 0f a stationary curved pipe, anda power transmittingmember therein coniprising a plurality 0f connected rigid links, atleast one of which is curved longitudinally on a longer radius than thatportion of the pipe in which it operates, the portion of this linkintermediate its endsA being cut away on the side toward the center 0fcurvature to prevent contact of this portion of the link with theenclosing pipe.

3. In reciprocatory ower` transmission mechanism, a. direction-c angingmeans'consisting of a stationary curved pipe, and a power transmittingmember therein comprising a plurality of connected rigid links, eachlink having a main rbody portion curved to substantially conform withthe curvature of the pipe within which it is enclosed and hav.- ing ayoke at each end, the yoke at the end of one link overlapping the yokeat the end of the adjacent link, a pivot pin connecting the yokes, and aroller mounted on each pin and having its periphery curved transverselyto conform with the inside surface of the pipe along which it travels.l

` 4. In reciprocatory powerv transmission mechanism,l a directionchanging means consisting of a stationarypipelhaving straight endportions connected by a-curved central portion, and a power transmissionmember therein comprising a plurality of rigid links connected end toend, the end linksof the series being straight and the central links.

being curved. Y

5. In reciprocatory power transmission mechanism, a direction changingmeans consisting of a stationary pipehaving straight' connected end toend, the. end links ofthe seriesV being straight andthe central linksbeing curved, the linksl beingv smaller in cross-section than theinterior of the pipe,- and rollers mounted on thel connecting pivots forthe links and having-a close working fit with the interior of the pipe.

-7-. In reciprocatory 'power transmission mechanism,'a directionchanging means con-4 sisting of a stationarypipe, and a 'powertransmitting` member .therein comprising a plurality ofV rigid' links,pivots connecting l the ends of 'adjacent links," and a rollermountedon'each pivot and having avclose rolling fit within the pipe, therollers, pipeplurality of forged steel links, pivot pins of and pivotsbeing formed of dissimilar Inetphosphor bronze connecting the ends ofadals, forthe purpose specified. Jacent links, and a cast steel rollermounted 10 8. In reciprocatory power transmission on each pivot pin andhaving a close Workinechanism, a direction changing means coning fitWithin the pipe.

sistiiig of a stationary pipe, and a power Y transmitting member thereincomprising a CHRISTIAN A. CHRISTOFFERSON.

